Plant milks for babies and children

Babies younger than six months should not be offered any plant milk. If breastfeeding is not possible, the only alternative for feeding a baby is to use formula milks specifically designed and produced to meet infants’ requirements.

Giving a baby any regular plant milk that can be bought in supermarkets (soya, almond, oat…) or a home-made formula (mixing regular plant milks with fruit and or vegetable juices) is very dangerous and almost always will lead to severe malnutrition and death.

What formula milks are available for vegan families?

Soya formula milk: It is based on isolated soya protein, contains maltodextrin as the source of carbohydrates and a mixture of vegetable oils and fats. It is supplemented with some amino acids, vitamins and minerals in the specific amounts required by law.

Soya formula milks have been used for over a century, are safe and have shown to promote growth and development comparable to that of breastfed babies or babies fed cow’s milk formula.

In the UK, there is one formula milk based on soya: SMA WySoy

It is almost entirely vegan. The only ingredient that is of animal origin is vitamin D, which accounts for a tiny fraction of the overall content. SMA WySoy is fortified with plant-based DHA (omega-3).

SMA WySoy can be bought in many supermarkets, pharmacies and other retailers like Boots. You do not need a prescription to buy it. SMA WySoy can be used from the first day after birth and until the child is 2-3 years old, and is usually well accepted and tolerated by babies. 

Hydrolysed rice protein formulas: These are more recent. They were originally developed for babies who are intolerant to cow’s milk and soya formula milks. They are not the same as the rice milks you can buy in supermarket. The manufacturers isolate the protein from rice, break it down into amino acids and add maltodextrin and a mixture of vegetable oils and fats. As whole rice is not used, their content in arsenic is low and comparable to other formulas. In addition, by law the manufacturers must analyse the formula periodically and check that the content of arsenic and other substances are below certain limits.

These formulas have been tested in babies with allergies and have proven to be safe. Because of the protein hydrolysis, some babies do not find them pleasant and might dislike them.

There are no hydrolysed rice protein formulas in the UK, but many families can obtain them from France. There are two available brands: Prémibio produces Prémiriz and La Mandorle produces Bébé M.

Both brands use organic ingredients, are free of palm oil, and are fortified with plant based DHA and plant based vitamin D. They are therefore 100% vegan. They are significantly more expensive than SMA WySoy.

In addition to these hydrolysed rice formulas produced in France, the Australian brand Sprout Organic produces a 100% plant-based infant formula for babies from the first day of life based on rice (non-hydrolysed) and pea protein and rice starch.  As the rice protein is not hydrolysed the formula tastes better.

This formula is of overall very good quality and is a good alternative for vegan families.

As this formula is manufactured in Australia, it follows Australian regulations in terms of minimum and maximum content of macro (protein, fat, carbohydrates) and micro (vitamins, minerals) nutrients. Although most nutrients are found in very similar quantities compared to European formulas, there are two, vitamin D and DHA, which are found in lower amounts.

Sprout Organic Infant Formula provides 0.7 µg of vitamin D / 100 ml. The RDI of vitamin D for babies under one year in the UK is 8.5-10 µg. A baby would have to drink 1200 ml of Sprout Organic Infant Formula to obtain 8.5 µg of vitamin D. To reach the same amount of vitamin D a baby would only need to drink 560 ml of SMA WySoy (1.5 µg / 100 ml), or 650 ml of Bébé M (1.3 µg / 100 ml) or 520 ml of Prémiriz 1 (1.64 µg / 100 ml).

Infants who are consistently taking less than one litre per day of Sprout formula should take a supplement providing 5 µg (200 IU) of vitamin D per day.  If the baby is already 6 months old, he or she can be started on the Vegan Society’s multivitamin for infants 6 months-5 years or an equivalent supplements that meets UK government recommendations.

In Australia, the addition of DHA to infant formula is not mandatory. Although Sprout formula includes DHA, it does so in smaller amounts than European formulas. For example, SMA WySOy provides 13.5 mg of DHA per 100 ml. This means that 750 ml per day of formula provides the recommended 100 mg of DHA per day at this age. Prémiriz and Bébé M provide 14-14.5 mg / 100 ml; so 700 ml of formula would cover the daily DHA requirement.

However Sprout Organic Infant Formula provides 7.7 mg DHA / 100 ml. A baby would need to drink 1350 ml per day to meet his or her DHA needs. Many babies between 3 and 6 months can take this amount, but not all. In the first few weeks of life many babies will take much less. If you find that your baby is consistently taking less than 1 litre a day of this formula, give them a separate supplement of 100 mg DHA 2-3 times a week (or 50 mg every day).